Putin envoy and far-right AfD prepare talks to get Russian gas back for Germany, sources say

Key Points:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin's top economic envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, and Germany's far-right AfD party leaders are preparing to meet next year to discuss restarting Russian gas supplies to Germany, contingent on a peace framework between Russia and Ukraine.
• The proposed meeting, potentially involving US representatives and held in locations like Israel, UAE, or India, aims to explore reopening the Nord Stream pipelines, highlighting the AfD's close ties with Moscow despite being excluded from government coalitions.
• The AfD, Germany's most popular party with voters but blocked from power, seeks to use the meeting to demonstrate foreign policy competence and criticize the government's handling of energy prices amid ongoing energy supply challenges.
• The initiative faces strong opposition from mainstream German politicians and allies, who warn that renewed dependence on Russian gas would threaten European security and betray Ukraine, emphasizing the risks of repeating past energy crises.
• Germany's political landscape remains divided, especially in eastern regions with historical ties to Russia, where support for Moscow contrasts with the broader national stance backing Ukraine in the conflict.